﻿Six new species of the orb-weaver spider genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 (Araneae, Araneidae) and a redescription of A.colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve, Guizhou, China

﻿Abstract Six new species of the genus Araneus Clerck, 1757 from Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve in Guizhou Province, China are described: Araneuschenjingisp. nov. (♂♀), and A.yuboisp. nov. (♂♀) are assigned to the A.diadematus group; A.lihaiboisp. nov. (♂♀), A.shiisp. nov. (♂♀), A.wanghuaisp. nov. (♂♀), and A.yangchuandongisp. nov. (♂♀) are assigned to the A.sturmi group. Araneuscolubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 is redescribed. A new synonym of Araneuscolubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992 is proposed: Araneusoctodentalis Song & Zhu, 1992 syn. nov.


Introduction
Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve lies in northeast Guizhou Province, southwest China, the main peak of Wuling Mountains, with the highest altitude of 2572 m. It is the only habitat of Guizhou snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus brelichi Thomas). The spider fauna of this region was first deeply investigated by Song et al. (2006), who recorded a total of 126 species in 18 families. The spider fauna of this region has increased in recent years (Zhang et al. 2009;Huang et al. 2015;Lu et al. 2015;Wang et al. 2015Wang et al. , 2016Wang et al. , 2018Wang et al. , 2020aZeng et al. 2016;Jiang et al. 2018;Li et al. 2019;Wang and Wang 2020;Li et al. 2021Li et al. , 2022Yang et al. 2022). At present, 386 species in 34 families have been found in this region (pers. obs.).
Araneus Clerck, 1757 is the largest genus of the orb-weaver spider family Araneidae, and the Chinese Araneus fauna was summarized by Wu et al. (2023), with a total of 121 Araneus species recorded in China at present (WSC 2023). Specimens of Araneus collected in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve were identified, a total of 24 species was recognized, including six new species. The goal of this paper is to describe the new species and redescribe Araneus colubrinus Song & Zhu, 1992. 2) embolus visible in prolateral view ( Fig. 2A) vs completely hidden (Tanikawa 2007: fig. 644); 3) median apophysis about equal width to length in prolateral view ( Fig. 2A) vs ~ 2× longer than wide (Tanikawa 2007: fig. 644); and 4) scape short, distal end slightly beyond epigastric furrow (Fig. 1A) vs long, far exceeding epigastric furrow (Tanikawa 2007: fig. 643).
Pedipalp (Fig. 2): with a basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis about equal length to width, with two-pointed tip on opposite sides; embolus slender, almost transversal in prolateral view, curved sharply distally; conductor membranous, widest at base in ventral view; terminal apophysis wide at base, pointed distally, curved into a C-shape in apical view; subterminal apophysis blunt at tip.
Variation. Total length: ♀♀ 4.15-5.20 (n = 3). Distribution. Known only from type locality. Comments. The wide oval female abdomen with a pair of anterior lateral humps, and the long, ridged scape indicate that the new species belongs to the A. diadenmatus group.

Araneus colubrinus
Pedipalp (Fig. 4): with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis large, with a pointed tip and ten teeth; embolus slender, longer than conductor; conductor membranous ~ 3.6× longer than wide in retrolateral view, with a spur at base; terminal apophysis membranous, approximately equal in length to conductor; subterminal apophysis heavily sclerotized, with two spurs.
Epigyne (Fig. 7A-D): with a long base; scape long, extending forward first, then reflected to posterior, with nearly parallel sides and spoon shaped distal tip; copulatory openings wide and deeply concaved, at posterior surface; copulatory ducts curved about 90°; spermathecae elliptical, less than 1/4 of the spermatheca width apart.
Variation. Total length: ♂♂ 3.45-3.80 (n = 4), ♀♀ 4.45-5.25 (n = 12). Distribution. Known only from type locality. Comments. The wide oval abdomen, long and ridged scape, and the male pedipalp with a bifurcated median apophysis indicate that the new species belongs to the A. sturmi group.
Pedipalp (Fig. 10): with basal femoral protrusion; patella with two bristles; median apophysis large, triangular with two point tips; embolus stout at base, curved medially and tapered to a pointed tip, with a long, sclerotized embolic lamella; conductor weakly sclerotized, with a spur at base; terminal apophysis large, heavily sclerotized, with dozens of denticles.
Distribution. Guizhou (Yinjiang, Leishan). Comments. The female abdomen wide oval with a pair of anterior lateral humps, the long, ridged scape, and the male pedipalp with a wide terminal apophysis indicate that the new species belongs to the A. diadenmatus group.
Etymology. The species is named after Mr. Chuandong Yang (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who has been committed to biodiversity conservation of Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve for the past 40 years; noun in genitive case.    Etymology. The species is named after Mr. Bo Yu (Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Administration Bureau), who accompanied us on field collections; noun in genitive case.